Japan 0 Germany 3: Germany banished their 2002 World Cup ghosts with a comprehensive victory over Japan in the first match of their three-game tour of Asia yesterday.
Miroslav Klose scored twice and Michael Ballack was also on target for the Germans in Yokohama, scene of their 2-0 defeat to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup final.
"To beat Japan, the Asian champions, 3-0 here is very, very positive," Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann said. "The way our younger players integrated with the senior players was a huge bonus. The chemistry in the team is fantastic."
Striker Klose put Germany ahead in the 54th minute, poking home from close range after Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki had spilled a Ballack free kick.
Ballack made it 2-0 in the 69th minute with a brilliant curling shot from 25 metres after good work from Gerald Asamoah.
Klose added a third in stoppage time in the first meeting between the two countries, beating Narazaki with a low left-foot shot.
Germany have now won four games and drawn one since Klinsmann took over from Rudi Völler as coach in July.
JAPAN: Narazaki, Tanaka, Chano, Santos (Nishi 83 mins), Kaji, Fujita (Miura, 70), Fukunishi, Ogasawara, Inamoto (Endo, 70), Suzuki (Tamada, 46), Takahara (Okubo, 70). Subs Not Used: Doi, Kawaguchi, Nagata, Nakata. Booked: Tanaka, Ogasawara.
GERMANY: Kahn, Worns, Owomoyela, Mertesacker, Schulz, Schneider (Borowski, 72 mins), Ballack, Ernst (Engelhardt, 76), Klose, Asamoah, Podolski (Schweinsteiger, 62). Subs Not Used: Jentzsch, Friedrich, Brdaric. Booked: Owomoyela. Goals: Klose 54, Ballack 69, Klose 90.
Referee: M Shield (Australia).
